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In mid-summer, 2007, Allan suffered a severe crippling stroke. Once again I was called to The Providence Hospital in Everett where he was being treated. The doctors announced there would be no operation for him.
He was totally disabled on the left side but was told with therapy it could improve. It was the final blow that would start Allan on the downhill slide to eventual death. He finally agreed to come home after a futile, stubborn attempt to still make it on his own. Bless his heart for trying! H finally asked to come home.
We brought him home to Mt. Vernon and he lived with us reluctantly because he couldn't smoke in the house. There was, however,a covered porch where he could sit comfortably to smoke at leisure. He still received his Social Security check and we required nothing for him to live with us. I was helpless to do anything and he along with us, sadly had to watch his condition deteriorate, and it got worse every week.
Soon he was losing control of his bowels and with me having to work, My wife certainly could not
be expected to tend to him in that sense. He wasn't coherent at times and I knew his tumor was getting worse. When I tried to convince him he needed to come with me to the hospital, he threatened to stab me so at that point I called 911. The police understood what the situation was and had to physically force him into the car and escort him to the hospital. Because he didn't want to leave the security of our home, in desperation he hollered at me on the way out the door, "Are you going to tell them about the guy you murdered up in Canada?" In disbelief, I gaped at the police and, after glancing at each other, started laughing and told me they understood.
I went along to the hospital and after a quick MRI he was transported to Harborview diagnosed with severe bleeding and swelling in his tumor. The treatment was immediately started with steroids to reduce the swelling and stop the bleeding. They accomplished that and after several days brought his condition back to, if you will, normal. Allan and I had a good laugh over what he said going out the door with the police. He didn't remember saying it.
The decision was definitely made at that point that Allan would be going to a nursing home. Reluctantly, he agreed and was transported to the Burton Care Center in nearby Burlington, where he received excellent care.
I was able to visit him every day and bring him things he needed. Once again I was emotional on the way home, needless to say. It's just not supposed to work out that way!
On my visits to see him, I always left with him knowing that I loved him. In return he always told me not to worry about him but to care for myself. In his last days, he said that often.
Allan's condition surprisingly improved with increased medication and once again surprised the medical profession. He was there approx. a year and a half longer than expected.
I was able to hold his hand and say the Lords prayer before he finally succumbed on Feb. 10th,
2009. A strange thing happened at that point. I was seeing a little boy five years old. He looked at me and asked, "Dad, what happened?" I explained to him he had a brain tumor. He turned his head away and closed his eyes. He was finally at peace and a few hours later went with God to join his older brother Dan, whom I'm sure was waiting to help him through. he now rests with his brother in spirit in Cranbrook, B.C. R.I.P. you two! I'll never quit loving you! Their mother has since joined them. Just sayin'.
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